ST. JOHNSBURY, Vt.

Couple charged in killing seeking new attorneys

A Vermont couple charged with killing a popular St. Johnsbury teacher is scheduled to appear in court next Tuesday to ask for new lawyers.

Allen and Patricia Prue have been charged in the death of 33-year-old Melissa Jenkins in March 2012. They are accused of luring Jenkins from her Danville home, beating and strangling her and dumping her body in the Connecticut River.

The Prues, who have pleaded not guilty, will be tried separately.

The Caledonian-Record reported both submitted handwritten notes to the court saying they were not satisfied with the job their lawyers were doing. Patricia Prue’s lawyer, Marc Eagle, then filed his own request to withdraw as her attorney. Allen Prue’s lawyer, Dan Maguire, hasn’t asked to be removed.

BOSTON

Juror background checks requested in Bulger case

Federal prosecutors in the upcoming racketeering trial of reputed gangster James “Whitey” Bulger want to do criminal background checks on potential jurors.

In a court filing Thursday, prosecutors cited the case of convicted killer Gary Sampson, who was sentenced to death for carjacking and killing two Massachusetts men and was also convicted of killing a New Hampshire man during a weeklong crime spree in 2001. Sampson’s sentence was set aside by a judge who found that one juror had repeatedly answered questions about her life dishonestly.

Prosecutors said conducting background checks will help determine whether potential jurors have truthfully answered questionnaires and minimize the possibility of a mistrial.

Bulger, the former leader of the Winter Hill Gang, is scheduled to go on trial next month in an indictment accusing him of participating in 19 murders.

HANOVER, N.H.

Student accused of trying to obtain nitrous oxide gas

A Dartmouth College student has been arrested after police say he tried to obtain nitrous oxide gas.

Hanover police said a package addressed to Victor Lekweuwa was delivered to campus earlier this month. Investigators found four cartons of nitrous oxide canisters inside.

The 22-year-old senior was charged with attempting to commit inhaling toxic vapors of effect.

WMUR-TV reported police said the abuse of nitrous oxide gas by students has been a problem for many years.

MERRIMACK, N.H.

Police: Road rage incident escalated to suntan lotion

Police in Merrimack, N.H., say a road rage incident led to one driver squirting another with suntan lotion.

Police said a woman honked her horn when the car in front of her didn’t move as a traffic light turned green. WMUR-TV reported the driver ahead of her, William Farrell, got out of his car at the next intersection and squirted suntan lotion at her through her open window.

The woman called 911, and Farrell turned himself in to the police. Police said Farrell was arrested on a charge of simple assault, and was released on bail.

PROVIDENCE, R.I.

Labor officials asking court not to review Station fine

Rhode Island labor officials have asked the state Supreme Court not to review the $1 million fine levied against the former owners of the Station nightclub.

Michael and Jeffrey Derderian are appealing the fine, levied for failing to carry workers compensation insurance at the club in West Warwick, which went up in flames Feb. 20, 2003. Four club employees were among the 100 people who died.

A workers’ compensation judge levied the fine in 2004, but the penalty got tied up in appeals. A three-judge panel of the workers’ compensation court upheld the fine in March.

The Providence Journal reported the state Department of Labor and Training, in a memorandum to the high court, said the brothers have already benefited from nine years of delays.